Sudanese demonstrators stand in front of the burning German embassy in Khartoum after Friday prayers on Sept. 14, 2012. The demonstrators broke into the U.S. and German embassy compounds and raised Islamic flags in state-backed protests against a film that insults the Prophet Mohammad, witnesses say

Is there anything the U.S. can do to stop the wave of often violent demonstrations across the Muslim world this week targeting its embassies and those of its allies? The short answer is no; it will have to ride out the rage stoked by opportunists in Muslim capitals looking to profit politically from genuine popular outrage at a film insulting the Prophet Muhammad — and hope that no more diplomats or protesters are killed, thereby further escalating the confrontation.

Friday saw protests in countries as far-flung as Sri Lanka, Nigeria and the Maldives, as well as deadly confrontations in Tunis, where three people were killed after the U.S. embassy compound was breached, and in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, where one was killed after a similar breach. But Friday was always going to be a very bad day; as the Muslim day of prayer, it usually marks the zenith of any cycle of pan-Islamic protest, brings the global Muslim ummah together in mosques and affirms the bonds of a community of faith and submission to the God of Abraham. The Friday jummah prayer service symbolically reaffirms the community of the faithful, which can be used to remind them of the notion that an attack on Muslims anywhere, or on the symbols of their faith, should be felt as an attack on Muslims everywhere. Fridays, then, have in recent years always marked a high point in protests, whether against the invasion of Iraq, the abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison, Israel’s bombing of Gaza or the desecration of the Koran by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan or an obscure preacher in Florida. And, as in those previous rounds of protest, it’s a fairly safe bet that the outrage over the Innocence of Muslims film will eventually abate — although the death of protesters creates new grievances that can sustain the issue.

But White House press secretary Jay Carney may have been overreaching when he insisted on Friday that the protests arose “in response not to United States policy, not to the Administration, not the American people [but] in response to a video, a film that we have judged to be reprehensible and disgusting. That in no way justifies any violent reaction to it, but this is in no way a case of protests directed towards the United States writ large or at U.S. policies.”

It’s never that simple.

The reason a piece of “evidence” of American animus to Islam — the desecration of a Koran, say, or the dissemination of a video painting a grotesque caricature of the Prophet Muhammad — ignites rage toward U.S. institutions in so many Muslims is the way those Muslims have viewed and experienced U.S. policy. Direct insults of Islam such as those contained in the offending movie are such a powerful tool in the hands of those who would agitate against U.S. involvement in the Middle East — and against those in the Arab world who would work with Washington — because they function as a kind of narrative “gotcha!” motive that ties together all of the Arab world’s many grievances with the U.S. Egregious insults like the Innocence of Muslims film would not be so easily translated into rage at U.S. power were it not for the simmering long-term rage at Washington over its invasions of Muslim countries, its support for Israeli governments and Arab despots, its drone strikes and more.

Deep anger at U.S. foreign policy is the extended preexisting condition that geopolitical Obamacare has failed to significantly alter; the outrage at an offensive film is the opportunistic virus that, when combined with the preexisting condition, creates a crisis. Instances of American Islam-bashing are used to prove that the policies and actions of the U.S. that most anger ordinary Arabs are not simply discrete foreign policy choices driven by self-interest and other agendas but rather expressions of a deeper animus toward Islam itself — a proof that functions as a chemical catalyst that can bring residual anger to a boil.

Yes, it’s always manipulated by cynical opportunists driven by narrow political agendas, but the outrage itself is real, and it’s hardly confined to a movie. Without the pre-existing anger, in fact, the film would be like a detonator without dynamite. Only the combination of the two creates the explosion.

So in that sense, President Obama’s Republican critics are not wrong in suggesting that this week’s upsurge in protests represents, at least in part, a response to the Administration’s handling of the Middle East or even to what vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan on Friday called “mixed signals” from the White House. But where Ryan and those echoing him are wrong — egregiously, spectacularly wrong — is in suggesting that the protests are a response to a retreat from “moral clarity and firmness of purpose,” watchwords of the Bush era. On the contrary, the Muslim world was up in arms against the U.S. on a sustained basis for most of the Bush presidency, precisely because of its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, its unconditional backing of Israel as it pummeled Palestinians and the obvious hypocrisy of a policy of proclaiming democracy and freedom while coddling friendly despots. If the Arab world is angry at the “mixed messages” coming from the Obama Administration, that’s because the President in Cairo in 2009 had promised a break from Bush-era policies yet failed on many fronts to deliver it. It’s not the changes Obama’s made since the Bush era that drive Arab anger; it’s his Administration’s many continuities with Bush-era policies in the Middle East. Ryan demands that Obama show “American leadership” by marching even more closely in lockstep with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That’s going to calm the crowds gathered in front of U.S. embassies in the Arab world?

Thoughtful foreign policy wonks from hawkish heavy hitter Robert Kagan, a key Bush Administration adviser during the Iraq war, to liberal experts in Arab politics like the Carnegie Endowment’s Nathan Brown concur in supporting a measured response that recognizes the political and social crises under way in the Arab world while seeking engagement with the emergent Islamist governments in order to push them in a more pragmatic direction.

The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt appears to have tried to signal, however clumsily, that it too seeks engagement and a new relationship with Western powers. But it can’t ignore the stream of anger unleashed by the broadcasting on Salafist TV networks of clips from a crude video provocation. That’s why it has called on its followers to protest the film but to do so peacefully at their local mosques. In other words, not at the U.S. embassy. Something tells me that such roundabout efforts to calm the situation by encouraging but also limiting protest — as two-sided as they may seem to an American media audience — may offer the best hope of changing the dynamic. Events over the past week in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen are a reminder that the region, and Washington’s relationship with it, has entered uncharted territory over the past two years.

Neither bromides about “moral clarity” nor evasions of the enduring contradictions and ambiguities in U.S. policy offer much guidance. As the Arab world changes, it asks new questions of itself and also of the major superpower in its midst. That conversation, which will be anything but comfortable, is only just beginning.

Tony Karon is a senior editor at TIME, where he has covered international conflicts in the Middle East, Asia, and the Balkans since 1997. A native of South Africa, he now resides with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

Yet muslims and other religions think it's ok that they can do these things against and say things against Jesus', His Spirit, Father, Water and Light of life that's in and around us All, everyday? The God you worship are the things you do to others and what you know is truth as, towards and in, reality and destiny perceived to be for all. What you pray for and enforce All to receive, so shall you get it. Bring your false god of death against the One true God of Life that';s inside yourself and all others and you already lost by coming against yourself. So they're upset that mohammed was shown to be an adulterous, selfish, murderer so they're going to kill rape and pillage America to prove that they and mohammed are not like that and he nor they do those things and that their acts of violence, terror, killing and rape against American men, women, children and the promised land are Godly and God's will? My GOD will put an end to their ways and their FALSE god AND PROPHET OF TERROR, RAPE AND MURDER THAT THEY WORSHIP WITH THEIR SAME ACTIONS AND DEEDS.

We can stop it by putting 1,000 soldiers and machine guns on all the embassy walls and mowing down any scum that tries to climb the wall! These Embassies are PART OF THE USA and an attack on them is just like an attack on New York City and must be treated as such.

HARDLY MATTERS WHICH RELIGION WE ARE FROM-EVERY RELIGION HAS ONE PATH, so whoever willfully does any ill will,will ultimately suffer if done intentionally, otherwise mistakes everyone forgives and now is the time of all to show your tolerance

though myself I am against God being shown in bad light, because, we have their legacy in our hearts, so in the end what God has asked us to do we will do that which is outside our preview, only and only GOD will look after it

Let me start saying this: I am sorry for the death of the US ambassador and 3 other officials.

Let me put few things in perspective to Americans. Religion is very important in the middle east and we don't like anyone insulting our prophet or any prophet for that matter of fact. Nevertheless there are people who react extremely when their religion is affronted and unfortunately this is not going to stop now or in the future. This is how it is here so it is very simple matter: if you don't like it just LEAVE and take your embassies and staff with you. As far as your freedom of speech when used to derogate and offend people and their believes to reflect your civility then keep it for yourself. I don't go around in the streets in the US insulting people for their beliefs and if I did I know I would be in trouble. Or find a way to curtail offenses to religious beliefs if you decide you want to stay here.

Now as far as the extreme reactions we see, I assure they are not just related to the video (innocence of muslims) which is just the tip of the iceberg. These extreme reactions are the result of anger, frustration and outrage at US foreign policy in the middle east and have been brewing for decades. First and foremost Israel occupation of Palestine and its defiance of UN resolutions regarding Palestine. Then the invasion of Iraq over a WMD lies: casualties in the 100 of thousands and Afghanistan is not over yet. Also you are interfering in Syria's internal affairs in the name of democracy when it is none of your business and on the hand you sleep with despotic regime in the Persian Gulf! Now whether be it religious offense or turban heads or whatever else that offend others you will get that sort of extreme reactions. Again I reiterate that if you don't like it then you know where the door is and it is wide wide open. Can you take a hint?

Now I hear all sort of comments here: stop aids, stop this and that … Frankly the US takes more from the middle east than it will ever give back. All the proceeds from gas and oil going to despotic regimes are channeled back to the US and the west to support your economies. How big is your debt to saudi arabia? How much of US goods flood our markets from cars to computers to prescription drugs and food stuff like Kellogg West? How about all the business and oil contracts the west is getting now from Libya int the name of democracy? Frankly you need us more than we will ever need you. Other nations and more respectful cultures are more happy to take your place here such as China, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa, and many others all competing for a place here. So again the doors are wide wide open!!!!!!! SO do us a favor either shut up or leave, WE JUST DON'T NEED YOUR HYPOCRISY!

Now as far as the american religious zealots, evangelicals nuts and crusaders, please do give me a break. You have got nothing christian about you. You drool with hate and anger more than those men rioting. If only you stick to what Jesus said : "love thy neighbor" and when he was asked who is thy neighbor he said "mankind." Now remember Jesus was born in the middle east and not in America and if we are to take his words literally then your neighbor is middle easterner. So if we middle easterners happen to be wrong at times, please do show us some love and good examples and stick to the 10 commandments. Finally remember what Jesus said:"let those without sin throw the first stone."

In order to understand Muslim anger, this article should have spent far more time discussing Washington's unique relationship with the Jewish State and how all of Israel's regional foes keep ending up in America's cross hairs. Let's also consider these questions:

How many Iraqi civilians have US policies destroyed? (to the nearest hundred thousand).

How much suffering are we imposing right now on the people of Iran? And their sin involves developing nuclear energy? Explain. (And please don't forget the Jewish lobby.)

How many have we killed in Afghanistan?

How many deaths, how many refugees, and how many lives destroyed in Palestine?

If Iran "developed nuclear energy" in a form which would not lend itself to weaponizing, I wouldn't have much complaint. If I thought this were their only intention, and I thought that their abilities in that direction were adequate to keep any little disasters to themselves, I also wouldn't complain.

However, their governance being what it is, and their ideology being what IT is, I sort of doubt the idea of it being an entirely peaceful, merely electricity-providing use of nuclear power.

While I don't like a lot of the things Israel has done with regard to the Palestinians, if they do, in fact, have nuclear weapons, at least, they haven't used or threatened to use them. It is often assumed that Israel does, but I don't think it's established for sure.

What we do know for sure is that it's been 67 years since any atomic weapon has been used. It would certainly be nice to keep it that way.

How many Iraqi civilians were murdered by Saddam Hussein and his people? How many Iraqi citizens have been killed by fellow Muslims, while other Muslims silently looked on?

How many terrorist organizations does Iran succor and foster? How many of these would they give nuclear weapons? If Iran is so innocent why for more than a decade have they lied to the international nuclear agencies about what they are doing? What are they hiding? Can you trust a nation who has stated they want to wipe another nation off of the map?

How many have been killed in Afghanistan by the Taliban before and after 9/11? How many women there have been treated worse than livestock? How many have lost hands and heads not because they broke any law, religious or otherwise, but just because an impure man falsely accused them of something?

How many Palestinians have been betrayed by many of their Arab neighbors, who have encouraged their violence over nation building, as a means to distract their own citizens from the ills they perpetuate in their own countries?

Why do they hate us? I think they hate us because we are not a Muslim nation and because we have power. After all non-Muslims in Muslim countries are treated horribly, with their lives restricted, their religion harassed or worse, and often their lives taken. Also Muslim against Muslim violence, abuse, and terror, affects the Muslim community more than anything others do to them, but they aren't out protesting that.

Using religion as a weapon, instead of as a way to worship the creator is blasphemy in my opinion.

Didn't Bill Maher make a film that included mockery of Islam? Oh wait, he donated a million bucks to Obama so, we will never hear of it in main stream media.

Even so this was absolutely not about a movie, it was a statement of power by Alkada to mark the attack on 9/11/2001 where they murdered 3,000 innocent civilians. A statement to the world saying we have the power to murder an ambassador on the day America should have been most prepared for attack. Retaliation for the drone that killed some Alkada leader from Libya recently, or for Osama, but mostly just a statement of power to mark 9/11.

faith, should be felt as an attack on Muslims everywhere." ---This is the justification Muslims use to support unthinking violence. Yet Muslims look away, and forget about their community of faith, when Muslims kill and terrorize Muslims. They seem to kowtow to the perpetrators, and are unnaturally silent. Until they are willing to protest against these murderers in their midst, they have no business getting peeved and violent at a couple of insignificant, stupid people for creating an unwatched film. And they have no business blaming a nation for the insults of a couple of people no one knows or cares about.

Also, I haven't seen Muslims massing in protest against the desecration and destruction of mosques and other Islamic holy places by fellow Muslims. I've found such destruction horrific. If they want to protest they should start there.

The more I think about it, the more it seems these protests have almost nothing to do, with a religion being slighted and people being insulted about it, or they would take actions at greater and more serious insults. And they would take the greatest offense at the killing of Muslims by Muslims.

karon seems to indicate that the us should have a consistent policy but not toward supporting israel. his question whether not supporting israel would stop the riots underscore his animus. the issue which he misses is the fundamental western belief , specifically the freedom of speech in our constitution, and whether a religion, islam in this case, has the right to blackmail our government in removing this constitutional right. as a citizen our us laws and rights are not to ne amended for a world government.

"I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. it was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in Allah(god) and in his own mission. there and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle." Mahatma Gandhi, statement published in "your India" 1924.

In the name of Allah who is god of Moses peace be upon him, God of Jesus peace be upon him, and God of Mohammad (SAW). This world can be a peaceful place only if we respect all religions. humans are humans no matter which religion they belong to or where they live, they should be treated like humans, if your in power---if your powerful remember that the creator is above all, his Almighty has all the powers, don't challenge him and his powers.

Roman Polanski is a "convicted child molester," with an entensive oeuvre of movies of pretty considerable merit. I'm particularly fond of his Macbeth. None of his movies was made with the purpose in mind of just causing trouble, though.

I don't personally find rap music all that interesting. I also don't think it's causing riots. Elvis Presley, on the other hand, did. I was never all that taken with him, either, but a lot of people seem to be.

The traditional limit on freedom of speech is this: the "shouting of 'fire!' in a crowded theatre," which can result in a catastrophe. Not everybody has the basic sense of responsibility which comes as the flip side of freedom: clearly, this "movie" was created by someone with a less-than-adult perception of both sides of the "coin."

This thing has resulted in a catastrophe, as it was intended to do. It's probably been disseminated enough that taking it off Google at this stage would not be useful, but its making was reprehensible and irresponsible. If you "love" it, this speaks more for your taste than for anything else.

luis bunel's/salvador dali's UN CHIEN ANDALOU, is a silent short about the same length as this movie---and it's plotless; I have it on dvd. Bunel/dali's next movie, L' AGE D'OR caused riots, and isn't as good.

I can honestly say I love INNOCENCE OF THE MUSLIMS as drivein/grindhouse schlock; if it ever comes out on dvd, I'll add it to REEFER MADNESS and other dvds I own.

Rap music is racist---I find rap music morally and artistically offensive, made only to shock people, so its ok to ban that.

and roman polanski is a convicted child molester---so ban all his movies, too.

This thing isn't the equivalent of any of those movies; it's just a piece of junk, with the same general production values as some kid's birthday party video. Taken by the kids . Plan Nine's claim to being "professionally made" is tenuous, but at least, it wasn't made by a convict with delusions of grandeur. The "Spaghetti Westerns" were made pretty much wherever they could be made cheaply, and Alfred Hitchcock was an established director before he came to America.

Both Plan Nine and Birth of a Nation were risible , but all those films were made -and shown - as efforts to make a profit monetarily, with varying degrees of success.

Far from being an "important cultural artifact," this current thing's just a piece of incitation aimed at creating a problem, and other than the name of it being remembered, it will be as obscure as its maker.

Why do you think that "every rap song" should be "cut" from youtube? Do you have a problem with the form, or its participants?

By the way, on another front, campaign appearances are scheduled far in advance of their occurrence, and President Obama was in Nevada talking about education, (he did the same thing in Ohio) and other places. That's not "partying," it's just a reality of American politics. Either you're inclined to be deliberately misleading (far from an impossibility) or just naive.

Whomever is responsible for this film knew exactly what they were doing. Someone wants to keep the middle east stirred up against the US. I would not be surprised if it comes from the right wing propaganda machine right here in our country. They will stoop at any level to make President Obama look inadequate if they can. I would hope that is not the case but after all the dishonesty they have shown toward our President, nothing would surprise me. I think we need to leave the middle east to their own devices and if they want peace then they can fight for it the same way our country did. If the host countries cannot protect our diplomats, then they need to come home. Bring our military home and station them around our borders to keep our country safe. If we do not tighten our security we will certainly have another 9/11 type attack. We cannot bend other countries to our ideology and it is time to realize that and stop trying to change the world. The best we can do is try to keep peace between these nations by example. When we have Presidential candidates beating the war drums, it certainly does not speak a peaceful intent at the highest level. I think Mit Romney would be just the type to start a world war with his already preconceived and outdated views of the world.

One way or another, Americans die every day. Some die of natural causes, some in accidents, some are murdered.

Americans of all hues die. Everyone does, you know.

It's a shame what happened in Benghazi, and actually, four Americans died there. But no amount of mourning will bring them back. Nor any of the other Americans who also died that day, one way and another.

President Obama is not any sort of god to me. But he is the President of the United States.

Oh please, you are an example of the right wing nuts out there. Obama may be in Las Vegas. SO what? He is President where ever he goes. He has given a tribute to those who were killed and life does not stop because of these terrible situations. His job does not stop just because he is not in the White House. He is on duty where ever he goes even if he is "partying" as you think. Your colors are showing and they are not red, white, and blue. As far as Obama being my real God Only idiots make those kinds of comments. I worship no man. Maybe you should think about that statement. Your Candidate Mit Romney is just about as happy to meet his maker as the extreme Muslim fundamentalist are as happy to die for their God. He, as a Mormon, thinks he will go to a planet named Kolob and live happily ever after, sealed forever with his family and other Mormons. In fact, they think more about the after life than they do about the present one. Also Mormons do not believe in the Immaculate Conception so that must mean he does not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That means he is not a Christian. The Conservative right wingers hate Obama so much they do not care if their Presidential nomineee is any religion, as long as he is not a black Obama. Romney is the kind of hot head who would not think twice about getting this coountry into world war III. He does not mind dying. Just keep listening to the idiots on Fox and Lmbaugh , Hannity and the like.They have made up every ridiculous lie about Obama they can come up with, none which are proven to be true. Do your research from the source, not from people who are not even involved in the government process. There is no hidden agenda in the main stream media, you do not hear about it because it is not true. You know the news that the majority of Americans are intelligent enought to listen too.

You make absolutely no sense. The President paid his respects and is not expected to go into hiding to mourn those who died. It makes no difference the color of their skin and I have no idea why you assume it does to me. I am a white anglo saxon, senior female and my family ancestors have lived here for over 300 yrs. You are making a ridiculous statement. You obviously still live in the 1970s so you need to get out of that bubble and join the rest of the world. Jimmy Carter President a 2nd term ???? It is 2012. President Obama has done nothing or said anything to warrant your ridicule. It is just something you right wingers feel you have to do regardless of what he does. You will find fault. Grow up.

i'm sure you'd have the same excuses if an african-american was killed by a lynch mob....but as long as the ambassador was a white victim of a muslim LYNCH MOB, time to turn to other things---like making sure jimmy carter jr gets a 2nd term.